Can treating machine



Jim 29, 1943.

T. BEGG CAN TREATING MACHINE Filed July 1, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR June 29,1943, T. 'BEGG v 2,

CAN TREATING MACHINE June 4T. BEGG CAN TREATING MACHINE Filed July 1, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYS June 29, 1943. 55, I 2,323,190

CAN TREATING MACHINE i Filed July 1, 1941 s Sheet-Sheet 4 Ala I f r m g 9 9/ \f y 736 i z 7 V m/ (/27 p I O 28 v 7 I Z9 Z7 a; 27 27 61 F0 g Q 37 32' 72 v 34 I 1 475/ 47 o I v A a;

#4 I97. A o o /Z/ /4/ 437 I 46 77 A 122 w- 9 4'5 3}" i 72 $44 1 INVE NTOR ATTORNEYS June 29, 1943.

CAN TREATING MACHINE Filed July 1, 1941 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 ATT OR NEY S T. BEGG 2,323,190

Patented June 29, 1943 CAN TREATING MACHINE Thomas Begg,

Can Comp y, of New Jersey Nutley, N. J assignor to American New York, N. Y., a corporation Application July 1, 1941, Serial No. 400,764

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to container or can treating machines and has particular reference to bringing the machine to a quick stop when cans become jammed therein.

In the manufacture of sheet metal cans numerous high speed machines are used in which the cans are introduced into the machines and are discharged therefrom by way of rotating turrets and star-wheels. Occasionally a can will become jammed between a turret or star-wheel and its adjacent cooperating member and if the machine is not stopped quickly considerable damage to the machine parts may take place.

The instant invention contemplates overcoming this difficulty by providing an electro-mechanical quick stop mechanism for the machine so that jamming of a can will immediately stop the machine.

An object therefore of the invention is the provision in a can treating machine of an electro-mechanical stop mechanism wherein jamming of a can in the machine quickly stops the latter so that damage to the machine parts is prevented.

Another object is the provision of such a stop mechanism wherein the usual mechanical stop devices are utilized and these are actuated by electrically operated devices to stop the machine more quickly when a can becomes jammed in the machine.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figures 1 and 2 when taken together constitute a side elevation of a machine embodying the instant invention, with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a composite end elevation and sectional view of the machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2 as viewed from the right in Fig. 2, with parts broken away; I

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken substantially along the line 4-4 in Figs. 1 and 2, with parts broken away;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the broken line 5-5 in Fig. 2, with parts broken away;

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the lower portion of the machine as viewed from the right in Fig. 2, with parts broken away;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the portion of the machine at the left in Fig. 1 with the moving parts in a different position;

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional detail of certain of the parts shown in Fig. '7, with parts broken away; and

Fig. 9 is a wiring diagram of the electric apparatus used in the machine.

As a preferred embodiment of the instant invention the drawings illustrate principal parts of a can testing machine of the character disclosed in United States Patent 2,019,517, issued November 5, 1935, to M. E. Widell. In such a machine sheet metal cans A (Fig. 2) having one end open are positioned by an entrance turret B into a large rotating can tester wheel 0 in which the cans are subjected to air under pressure to determine if a can leaks. The tester wheel brings the cans back to a position adjacent the entrance turret and here they are removed by a discharge turret D which discharges them into a good can outlet E or a leaky can outlet F in accordance with the condition of the can.

The machine shown in the drawings is of the duplex or double character having two testing wheels C each with its own complete set of operating parts including entrance and discharge turrets so that a double line of cans may pass through the machine simultaneously. This is a usual testing machine construction.

The testing wheels C occupy the greater part of the machine and these wheels are mounted on separate drive shafts 2| (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) journaled in bearings 22 formed in upright brackets 23 bolted to a machine base 24. The wheels are rotated by way of large spur gears 25 which are bolted on the sides of the wheels. These wheel gears mesh with and are driven by a pair of intermediate gears 21 (see also Fig.4) loosely mounted on a common idler shaft 28 carried in bearing brackets 29 secured to the machine base.

The intermediate gears 21 mesh with driving pinions 32 mounted on the inner ends of two separate pinion shafts 33 journaled in the bearing brackets 29 and in auxiliary bearing brack ets 34 secured to the machine base 24. The pinion shafts 33 carry idler gears 33 which mesh with driving pinions 31 secured to friction clutches 38 loosely carried on a main drive shaft 39.

of the other to actuate the testing wheel con-.

nected to it by way of the gear train just ex- This main drive shaft is journaled in the bearing brackets 34 and maybe rotated in any plained. Operation of a clutch is brought about by bringing a friction disc 45 into engagement with other members of the clutch. The disc is keyed to the shaft 39 and is slidable therealong by way of toggle links 43 connecting with a loose collar 41 which is also slidable on the shaft.

The clutch actuating collar 41 is shifted into and out of clutch operating position by a yoke 5I which is moved by a vertical shaft 52 (Fig. 1) connected by a lever 53 to one end of a long rod 54. The opposite end of the rod 54 is pivotally connected to a lever 55 (Fig. 2) mounted on a pivot pin 55 carried in. a bracket 5! bolted to the machine base 24. The rod also is connected by way of a link BI to a lever 62 mounted on a pivot stud 63 secured in the machine base. The lever is pivotally connected to a start and stop or clutch handle 64. There is one of these handles for each testing wheel 0, a handle being located on each side of the machine.

The handle 64 is also pivotally connected to one end of a link 65. The other end of the link is secured to a short shaft 66 which is carried in a bearing in the bracket 34. the shaft carries a Wedge block 6'! (Fig. 8) of a conventional band brake 68 which surrounds each auxiliary drive shaft 33.

When the handles 64 are in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 8, they hold the brakes 68 in release and hold the clutch discs 45 against the clutches 38 and thus connect the testing wheels C by way of the operating gear trains in operating connection with the main drive shaft 39. Each testing wheel and the other moving parts of the machine connected therewith continue to operate as long as its handle 64'is in this operating position.

When it is desired to stop the machine, the handle 64 is shifted into the position shown in Fig. 7. Shifting of the handle into this position pushes on the link BI and rod 54 and thereby releases the clutch disc 45 from the clutch and thus disconnects the clutch for that wheel from the main shaft. The shifting of the handle also rock the brake wedge 61 to a position which permits the brake 68 to clamp against the shaft 33 and thereby stop the machine parts connected therewith whil the main drive shaft continues to rotate.

Actuation of each handle 64 to start its machine preferably is eifected manually. However, stopping of the machine may be accomplished automatically through actuation of the handle as well as by their manual actuation. This is done when a can jams in the entrance or dis- .6.

charge turrets. The driving connections for these turrets and the automatic stopping of the machine will now be explained.

The entrance turrets B are mounted on separate horizontal shafts II (Figs. 2 and 4) each shaft being journaled in bearings 12 formed in guide rail brackets '13 bolted to a sub-frame I4 secured to the machine base 24 and to the test ing wheel brackets 23. The discharge turrets D are mounted on. separate shafts 11 (Figs. 2 and 5) each being 'journaled in bearings I8 formed in the sub-frame I4.

These turrets B and D are rotated in timed relation with the testing wheels C by way of drive gears 8I (Figs. 2 and 5) which mesh with and are rotated by the testing wheel gears 25. These two gears SI are loosely mounted on a short shaft 82 carried in a bearing bracket 83 bolted to the machine base 24.

The gears actuate turret drive chains 85 which The inner end of Iii : normally closed electric stop switch operate over drive sprockets 86 (Figs. 2 and 4) which are secured to the inner faces of the gears 8|. The chains also operate over turret sprockets 07 which are mounted on the inner ends of ,the entrance turret shafts II and over turret sprockets 88 (Figs. 2 and 5) which are secured to slip clutches 89 carried on the inner ends of the discharge turret shafts I1.

Idler sprockets 9| (Figs. 2 and 4) mounted adjacent the entrance turret B and adjacent the discharge turret D operate against the turret chains 85 and keep them in a taut condition. These idler sprockets are mounted on pivot pins 92 carried in bearing brackets 93 bolted to the guide rail bracket 13 and to the sub-frame 14.

Referring now in particular to the entrance turret B it will be seen that cans A to be tested are introduced into the pockets of the turret by way of an inclined entrance chute I 0| (Fig. 2) the machine end of which is bolted to the guide rail bracket 73. The rotating turret picks the cans up from the machine end of the chute and carries them around a circular path of travel toward its testing wheel C. During this travel of the cans, curved guide rails I02 formed on the brackets I3 retain the cans in the pockets of the turret.

When a can comes adjacent the testing Wheel 0 it is transferred by the turret into one of a plurality of testing heads I03 carried on the periphery of the wheel. It is during this transfer that jamming of the cans may occur. The transfer is facilitated by an angular guide rail I05 which is disposed adjacent the path of travel of the can as it leaves the turret. One end of this guide rail is mounted on a pivot pin I06 secured in the guide rail bracket I3. The opposite end of the rail is pivotally secured to a vertical rod I08 carried in a lug I09 formed on the bracket'13.

The upperend of rod I08 carries a support .collar III which normally rests on the lug I09.

This holds the guide rail in the proper can guiding position. A compression spring II2 disposed around the rod and interposed between the lug I 09 and a collar II 3 on the rod yieldably maintains the guide rail in position. The upper end of the rod extends above its support collar III and engages against the movable element of a I I5 secured to the guide rail bracket 13.

Hence if a can A jams, in being transferred from the turret B into its can testing head I03, it pushes against and shifts upwardly the yieldable guide rail I05 against the resistance of the compression spring H2. This action lifts the rod I08 and forces the upper end against the movable element of the stop switch II5. This opens the switch and through suitable electric circuits, to be hereinafter described in connection with the wiring diagram in Fig. 9, actuates a machine stop device associated with the stop handle 64. This stop device is indicated broadly by the numeral II8 (Figs, 1, 4 and 7). There is one of these stop devices for each testing wheel C.

Each machine stop device II8 (Fig. 1) includes a normally energized solenoid I2I having a movable core I22 which carries a pin I23. The pin operates in a curved slot I24 cut in an operating arm I25 disposed adjacent the machine stop handle 64. The end of the arm adjacent the handle is formed with a notch I21 (Fig. 8). The opposite end is pivotally connected to the upper end of a yoke I29. The lower end of the yoke is mounted on a pivot pin I3I carried in a bracket I32 secured to the machine base 24.

The yoke I29 is connected by a link I35 to a lug I36 secured to a long rod I31 (see also Fig. 2). One end of the rod is connected to a cam lever I39 mounted on a pivot shaft I4I (see also Fig. 4) carried in a bearing I42 of the bracket 34. The shaft also carries a cam arm I43 having a cam roller I44 which operates in a cam groove I45 of a face cam I46 mounted on the main drive shaft 39. 1 Hence the rotation of the drive shaft 39 rotates'the cam I46 and thereby rocks the cam lever I39 and reciprocates the rod I31. The rod is reciprocated once for each can in the testing wheel C as the can is being discharged from the wheel.

The opposite end of the rod I31 is pivotally connected to an arm I48 which is loosely mounted on a shaft I49 on which a gate II is mounted, the gate being in the discharge chute. A latch device fully disclosed and explained in the Widell patent is interposed between the gate shaft I49 andthe loose arm I48 and operates to connect the arm with the shaft when a leaky can is detected. It is for this purpose that the rod I-31 and its connecting arm I48 is shifted once for each can in the testing wheel.

The gate normally remains in the position shown in Fig. 2 which is to discharge good cans by way of the outlet E. When a leaky can is detected the gate is raised to discharge the can by way of the outlet F.

This reciprocation of the rod I31 to operate the gate I 5I, also shifts the lug I36 on the rod and thereby rocks the link I29 of the stop device II8. Rocking of the link reciprocates the stop arm I25 once for each can in the testing wheel.

When cans normally are transferred from the entrance turret B into the heads I63 of the testing wheel 0, the stop device solenoid I2I normally remains energized and this holds its core I22 in the raised position shown in Fig. 1. Hence as the stop arm I25 reciprocates, the pin I23 in the solenoid core operates in the slot I24 in the arm and raises the notched free end of the latter so that it moves through a path of travel above and clear of a projection I55 on the handle. The handle thus remains in machine operating position.

When a can jams during its transfer and operates the stop switch I I5, the solenoid I2I is immediately deenergized and its core I22 moves down within the solenoid. The pin I23 in the core thereupon draws the stop arm I25 down so that the notched free end of the arm engages against the projection I55 on the handle and thus pushes the handle into machine stopping position as hereinbefore explained. The machine stops immediately so that the jammed can may be extracted before it does any damage to the machine parts.

In a similar manner a can becoming jammed in the discharge turret D during its transfer from a testing head I63 to the turret, operates the stop device I I8 and instantly stops the machine. This is brought about by electrical connections with the associated slip clutch 89 (Figs. 5 and 6) on the discharge turret shaft 11. Each slip clutch is provided with a yieldably mounted plate I6I against which a roller I62 engages. There is one roller for each plate and each roller is carried on a separate lever I63 mounted on a pivot pin I64 secured in a bracket I65 formed on the front of the sub-frame 14. The outer end of each lever carries an adjusting screw I66 which engages against a normally closed electric stop switch I61 secured to the brackets I65.

Thus when a can jams in a discharge turret D the jamming can puts a strain on the turret operating chain and this causes the associated slip clutch 89 to slip and force its plate I6I inwardly against the corresponding roller I62 on its lever I63. This rocks the lever and presses its adjusting screw I66 against the movable element of the stop switch to open it. Opening of the switch deenergizes the stop device solenoid I2I and thus stops the machine as hereinbefore explained in connection with the entrance turret B.

When the jammed can is removed the machine may be started again by manually returning the handle 64=to operating position. Re-starting of the machine brings the slip clutches 89 back into normal operation.

Reference should now be had to the wiring diagram in Fig. 9. In this diagram there are shown two complete identical circuits, each circuit for each testing wheel C including a switch II5, a switch I61, and a solenoid I2I. The two circuits receive electric energy from a common source of such energy such as a generator I12. When the switches II5, I61 are closed the energy from this generator flows along the circuits by way of a common lead wire I13, two wires I14, switches II5, wires I15, switches I61, wires I16, solenoids I2 I wires I11, and back to the generator by Way of a common return wire I18. Electric energy passing along these circuits maintain the solenoids I2I in a normally energized condition.

When one or both of the switches H5, I61 of either circuit are opened by the jamming of a can, the circuit which includes the opened switch is broken. The solenoid for this broken circuit is thereby deenergized and the machine is stopped as hereinbefore explained.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. In a can treating machine, the combination of a rotatable entrance turret for introducing cans into the machine, a rotatable discharge turret for discharging the cans from the machine, a drive shaft for the machine, a clutch on said drive shaft for rotating said turrets, a drive clutch operating handle, a brake also on said drive shaft and operable by said handle, a reciprocating arm movable adjacent said handle, an electric solenoid connecting with said arm and normally holding the arm out of operating engagement with said handle, and detecting means in operative electrical connection with said solenoid and operable when a can becomes jammed in either of said turrets for actuating said solenoid through said electrical connection whereby to bring said arm into operating engagement against said handle so that the handle will be pushed by the reciprocating arm into de-clutching and brake applying position to stop the machine.

2. In a can treating machine, the combination of a rotatable entrance turret for introducing cans into the machine, a drive shaft for rotating said turret, a drive clutch operating handle, a brake on said drive shaft and operable by said handle, a reciprocating arm movable adjacent said handle, an electric solenoid connecting with said arm and normally holding the arm out of operating engagement with said handle, a yieldable guide rail adjacent said turret and movable by a can jammed therein, and an electric switch operable by said guide rail and through operative electrical connections with said solenoid for ac tuating the latter to bring said arm into operating engagement against said handle so that the handle will be pushed by the reciprocating arm into de-clutching and brake applying position to stop the machine.

3. In a can treating machine, the combination of a rotatable discharge turret for discharging the cans from the machine, a drive shaft for the machine, a clutch on said drive shaft, auxiliary shafts driven by said clutch for rotating said turret, a slip clutch on one of said auxiliary shafts and operable when a can jams in said turret, a drive clutch operating handle, a brake also on said drive shaft and operable by said handle, a reciprocating arm movable adjacent said drive clutch operating handle, an electric solenoid connecting with said arm and normally holding the arm out of operating engagement with said handle, and an electric switch operable by said slip clutch and connecting in operative electrical connection with said solenoid for actuating the latter to bring said arm into operating engagement against said handle so that the handle will be pushed by the arm into de-clutching and brake applying position to stop the machine.

4. In a can treating machine, the combination of can transferring means, a constantly rotating drive shaft for the machine, a secondary drive shaft for said transferring means, a clutch interposed between and mechanically interengaging said shafts, a clutch operating handle, a brake on said secondary shaft and operable by said handle, a reciprocating arm movable adjacent said handle by means connected with said secondary shaft, an electric solenoid adjacent said arm and normally holding the arm out of operating engagement with said handle, and a detector adjacent said transferring means and in operative electrical connection with said solenoid, said detector being operable by a can jammed in said transferring means to actuate said solenoid through said connections and thereby bring said reciprocating arm into operating engagement against said handle so that the handle will be pushed by the arm into de-clutching and brake applying position to stop said secondary shaft, transferring means and reciprocating arm.

THOMAS BEGG. 

